Arctic Circle Japan Forum – Asia in the future of the Arctic
For the first weekend in March, ArktiskMat (AM) with Per Theodor Tørrissen, Jason Ball and Katrine Remmen Wiken participated at the Arctic Circle Japan Forum in Tokyo. The forum was organized by the organization Arctic Circle, who works to facilitate dialogue between political and business leaders, environmental experts, researchers, indigenous representatives, and other international stakeholders to address issues facing the Arctic.
In collaboration with the Arctic Economic Council and director Mads Qvist Fredriksen, AM presented the session; Arctic and Asian food connections: breaking down barriers. It consisted of a screening of four videos with Asian chefs preparing dishes with Norwegian seafood. In the same session, there was also a panel who discussed similarities and differences between Norwegian and Asian food culture, as well as what opportunities and challenges there are for Norwegian companies to export to the Asian market.
Photos: Arctic Circle
The films were inspired by Selena Gomez + Chef on Netflix - where Gomez, through digital communication, is guided in her home by professional chefs to prepare a dish. AM took the idea further and connected Northern Norwegian food producers with Asian chefs through Teams to discuss ideas and create dishes. The plan was launched for the Norwegian Seafood Council and the Scandinavia Japan Sasakawa Foundation , both of which helped sponsor the project. In addition, the trip was supported by the EU Japan Fest, Bodø2024 and the Korean Maritime Institute (KMI).
The project was started with the aim of exploring digital communication as a creative and new way of showcasing North Norwegian seafood. The digital format allows new international networks to be formed, and it facilitates the sharing of knowledge and cultural exchange. Before the filming, the partners were put together by AM, who also coordinated the filming. Furthermore, the chefs were sent Arctic products with a challenge to create new dishes based on their own culture and food tradition.
Working with all the partners, sharing information and seeing the result on the Arctic Circle Japan Forum stage has been truly inspiring! It is also very rewarding to learn that several new connections and future collaboration between partners has been initiated.
ArktiskMat would like to extend our gratitude to all involved partners!
Lia Berti - Partner and Marketing Manager at Hrogn AS / Bottarga Boreale
Tamara Singer - COO & Co-founder Lofoten Seaweed
Håvard Ulvestad Sperre - Vild Seafood
Annabel Yeseul Ha - Norwegian Shores
Thank you to the following chefs:
Saori Ichihara
David Bury
Gu Bong Gil
Thank you to our partners and sponsors:
Dr. Hide Sakaguchi - President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Umji Kim - Director, Northern and Polar Regions Research Division, Ocean Economy Strategy Department Korea Maritime Institute
Johan Kvalheim - Director Japan & Korea Norwegian Seafood Council
Jens-Simon Ulvoy - CEO Aqua Azuri
Scandinavia Japan Sasakawa Foundation
Arctic Economic Council
Bodø 2024 European Capital of Culture
EU Japanfest Japan Committee
Video editing courtesy of Helgeland Event
